IPC § 416 · Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Repealed on 1 July 2024
Section 416 IPC — Cheating by personation
Replaced from 1 July 2024 by BNS 319(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Offences committed on or before 30 June 2024 are still charged under the IPC.
The law now: BNS 319 — Cheating by personation
BNS 319(1) is the part that replaced IPC 416.
(1) A person is said to cheat by personation if he cheats by pretending to be some other person, or by knowingly substituting one person for or another, or representing that he or any other person is a person other than he or such other person really is.
Explanation.—The offence is committed whether the individual personated is a real or imaginary person.
Illustrations.
(a) A cheats by pretending to be a certain rich banker of the same name. A cheats by personation.
(b) A cheats by pretending to be B, a person who is deceased. A cheats by personation.
(2) Whoever cheats by personation shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in). The Gazette of India is the authoritative text. BNS 319 in full